Getting started on a raw food diet may sound like too much work with all these tasty-looking photos of raw food that look like they went through a complicated and time-consuming process. Out of all the raw food recipes out there, it may seem quite hard to pick out which recipe you should start on. But you don’t have to end up settling for a typical raw salad! You may be surprised to discover there are actually really easy raw food recipes to prepare. And easy raw recipes are exactly what you need if you’re new to eating raw food.

Here’s my list of the top 5 easy raw food recipes that I bet would make you proud of yourself after making and succeeding on your first attempt. 

Rawtarian's silky green smoothie recipe 

A yummy green smoothie is always such a treat. You just put in bananas, oranges, and an apple in a blender together with water, lemon juice, cinnamon, and chia seeds. But wait! Don’t forget the spinach (especially the spinach) since that’s what makes it green.

Spinach may seem like a strange ingredient to add to a smoothie, that’s why it’s essential you have a high-speed blender like a Vitamix or a Blendtec for making tasty green smoothies with a silky texture.

Raw banana cream pie recipe

A conventional pie would be baked in an oven. However, since this is a raw food recipe, there is no such thing as baking involved in making this delicious raw banana cream pie. What you will need is a freezer.

But before that, you have to start with the crust. Just mix all the crust ingredients in a food processor or blender until it sticks together. Press down the mixture in a glass dish to make the crust. After blending all the banana filling ingredients to a smooth and creamy mixture, pour it onto the crust, cover it, and let it freeze. Now you just have to wait for it to actually freeze, and then you can indulge yourself in a healthy banana cream pie.

Raw walnut pate 

Successful raw food recipes don’t have to always be sweet. You can let your tastebuds enjoy the smooth and salty flavor of a very easy and quick to prepare raw walnut pate.

In this recipe, you will need to soak the walnuts first for at least half an hour and then rinse. Process all the ingredients in a food processor, making sure to only add the soy sauce near the end of the processing, and serve it on cucumber rounds. The soy sauce is a vital ingredient that brings out the flavor in this dish. So never prepare this easy raw food recipe without it.

Raw chocolate fudge in 1 minute 

This raw chocolate fudge recipe is probably the easiest and quickest raw food to make among the five in this easy raw food recipes list. You just need cocoa powder, coconut oil and honey together in a bowl. Yes, seriously, those are all the ingredients you need. You don’t even have to stay in the kitchen to mix them! Just be careful with the measurements though, as you don’t want to add a little too much of any ingredient. This simple raw chocolate fudge is a sweet treat you can enjoy anytime.

Raw brownie recipe

Here’s another chocolatey yet healthy delight for your tastebuds. In this raw brownie recipe, you need to crush the pecans first in a food processor before adding the dates. Blend them together to form a sticky mixture and then add the rest of the ingredients to be processed. Remember, it’s important that the mixture not get too buttery by over-processing. After processing, you can chill it in the fridge or serve it right away. My raw brownie treat tastes so good you wouldn’t even know it was made of only raw ingredients unless you made it yourself.

Which recipe will you choose?

Alright, there you have it: my top 5 easy raw recipes. Now that wasn’t so hard, was it? One great thing about preparing raw food is that you don’t really need many kitchen tools. Most of the work is done by your food processor or your blender---or sometimes just your hands and a spoon. And you don’t have to wait too long either. You can whip up a delectable and healthy raw dish in just a matter of minutes.

Getting into the raw food diet isn’t as daunting now, is it? Not only is this easy to prepare raw food recipes list good for raw food newbies, but also for everyone who’s too busy to bother with staying too long in the kitchen. So go ahead and try making these easy raw goodies and enjoy the surprise of making healthy dishes that taste delicious and don't take too long to whip up.

If you’re looking for the best raw smoothie recipes to try and would like some variety instead of having the same green smoothie every day, then let me round up a few of my top-rated raw smoothie recipes that I’ve shared on this site. Many raw foodies have already tried making them and really loved them. These raw smoothie recipes are all very delicious and easy to prepare, so get your blender ready and blend away these popular raw concoctions!

Rawtarian's silky green smoothie recipe

I know I’ve said you probably were looking for variety aside from a green smoothie. But what’s a top-rated raw smoothie recipes list without a green smoothie? This silky green smoothie recipe may be quite simple but it’s definitely not lacking in the taste department. Plus, it's very practical and uses every day ingredients. (No berries in this one to keep the costs down.) To make this green smoothie, just dump in all the ingredients, namely bananas, oranges, an apple, spinach, water, lemon juice, cinnamon, and/or chia seeds, in your high-speed blender and blend away. Make sure it’s blended to a silky smooth texture for best results.

Raw chocolate shake recipe

Who doesn’t get excited about chocolates? They’re always a delight to have, not to mention packed with oodles of healthy goodness for your body. This raw chocolate shake recipe is also great for your kids. You can even have them make this recipe on their own with your help. It’s so easy. Just blend bananas, raw cocoa powder, agave nectar and water together, and it’s ready to serve! You can have fun and adjust the measurements depending on what your tastebuds dictate.

Raw lemonade smoothie

Lemonade has a summer feel to it, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the zesty summer feel even in winter (or any other season). For my raw lemonade smoothie recipe, you need water, a peeled lemon, a banana, dates, and celery or parsley. Throw them all in your blender and start blending. If your blender is not powerful enough, you might want to omit the celery because it may leave stringy bits in your smoothie. Otherwise, this recipe is perfectly refreshing.

Raw strawberry milk smoothie

Don’t think this is just another strawberry milk shake recipe because it’s not your ordinary milk shake. It’s a raw strawberry milk recipe without milk. But that’s no reason to despair because it tastes just as good or maybe even better! Let me tell you first that this recipe is best made using a high-speed blender to achieve the best texture. It’s also important to use frozen strawberries instead of fresh ones. Anyway, there are just a very few ingredients you will need for this recipe. Throw water, frozen strawberries, chia seeds and honey or agave nectar into your powerful blender and blend until nice and smooth. And that’s it! Many raw fooders have tried and loved this smoothie recipe, and I’m sure those who haven’t tried it yet will also love it too.

Raw eggnog smoothie

This recipe is either too late or too early for Christmas. But this one made the top-rated raw smoothie recipes list because… it’s rated five stars by many! Haha, kidding aside, many raw fooders love to have this raw food eggnog recipe in their list of holiday treats. And hey, it never hurts to learn another yummy smoothie recipe or two. Simply blend dates, cashews, coconut oil, vanilla extract, cinnamon and water, and enjoy the yumminess of this eggless raw eggnog. Next Christmas (or maybe tomorrow?), you can impress your friends and family with this raw twist on a traditional holiday eggnog.

Which smoothie will you try?

Which of these top-rated raw smoothie recipes do you think you'd enjoy most? I know it can be tough to pick one favorite especially when each smoothie is in a class of its own. But having various healthy smoothie options to choose from everyday is important. They make you look forward to what taste your palate can explore next.

So go ahead and experiment with your own blend of raw food smoothie!

Easy raw recipes - Are you looking for some? Well, of course you are. Why slave around in the kitchen when quick'll do? Lol

Going raw may seem daunting but there are some amazing, easy raw recipes out there. I should know, I've been collecting and creating them for years now. (Shudder - this must mean I am getting old!) While the raw food lifestyle does require a bit of advanced planning (okay, a LOT of advanced planning when compared to stopping off at McDonalds!), the good news is that there ARE some delightful raw recipes that can be thrown together fast with ingredients that you likely have on-hand.

Check out these 4 easy raw recipes—you'll be surprised at how quick and simple they are to prepare. Whether you're looking for something savory or sweet, I've got lots of easy raw recipes to satisfy almost any craving! Well, except for a craving for garlic bread, but I AM WORKING ON THAT ONE! (Stay tuned!)

Raw brownies in 10 minutes!

With six simple ingredients, a few minutes with your food processor, and a bit of chilling in the refrigerator, you will have mouthwatering vegan raw brownies that taste like the real thing. This versatile, easy raw recipe can also be used for a raw chocolate pie crust or raw chocolate truffles.

Oh ya, and don't forget the icing :) Actually, this is the most visited page on my entire website (and I've got over 100 easy raw recipes here, people!)

Raw lunch salad

If you're in a rush putting your lunch together before work, or just looking to switch up your usual raw lunch fare, look no further than this delicious avo-carrot-tom salad.

It doesn't get any easier than a couple of carrots, a tomato, and an avocado—and this salad dresses itself with the juices from the tomato and the creaminess of the avocado so no complicated raw dressing is required. The flavors blend together beautifully, and the texture contrasts make this an exciting, satisfying meal. Perfect to grab on your way out the door to work.

Strawberry banana bowl

Whether you're looking for a quick, delicious breakfast or an easy snack to satisfy a sweet tooth, this simple strawberry banana bowl recipe is sure to please. Topped with a tasty raw nut milk, and perhaps a sprinkling of cinnamon, this delightful dish will whisk you back to your childhood—especially as you drink the fruit-sweetened milk at the end.

Love it. Am I suppose to say "Love it" about my own recipes? Well, this is my blog so I can if I want to! Lol

Raw guacamole

This is the way guacamole was meant to be made—with fresh, healthy ingredients and an amazing flavor!

This raw guacamole recipe is so delicious it can be enjoyed on its own, as a topping on simple salads, or as a dip to enjoy with raw corn chips or raw crackers. And it's definitely a crowd-pleaser.

Which one will you try?

These four easy raw recipes are delicious, quick to make, and will add a wonderful variety to your simple raw recipe arsenal. Why not try one of them now. What are you waiting for? Go! Now! Get thee to a kitchen!

I just watched the documentary "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead" for the second time and was very moved - for the second time!

The film is about the power of juice fasting - where one consumes nothing but fresh juice for a set period of time. If you haven't seen this movie, it's a very "easy" watch that focuses more on personal stories than on a lot of heavy nutritonal info. I highly recommend watching it if you are looking for an inspirational, make-you-smile documentary that is light on the actual nutrition info.

The first half of the film tells the story of Joe Cross, the creator (and star) of the film who lost 80 pounds throughout the making of the movie. However, for me, the real gem of this film was the second half, which chronicles the story of Phil - a trucker who somewhat randomly gets swept up into this documentary.

I am not an avid juicer, although I do eat a raw food diet and have done so for 3 years. However, many people are first introduced to raw foods when coming off a juice fast - perhaps their first one. Interestingly, it was a common under-current throughout the film that most people who successfully complete a substantial juice fast no longer want to eat the heavy, greasy diets of their past. And they are then introduced to raw food when looking for healthy, living food (as opposed to juice) to eat.

One of the great things about juicing is that it is an excellent way to reboot your system. However, juice fasting (or juice "feasting" as some call it!) isn't something that is sustainable so it's important to have an arsenal of healthy raw recipes that work for you after the juice fast is complete.

One of the main reasons why I find this movie personally inspirational is the fact that Joe Cross's fleeting, happenstance meeting with Phil is so random. And yet it completely sends Phil's life into a new direction - for the better. I feel that in a tiny way that is what I am trying to do here with my website: www.therawtarian.com. And thus, this movie brings me to (happy) tears every time.

Hi friends,

Now that I have this new blog I am feeling a bit nervous about what to write about! I have been pretty focused on providing really valuable content (AKA my recipes!!) that will be of help to you.

And I want this blog to do the same. I will continue posting new raw food recipes, but I will also use this place to write articles or blog posts that you will find super helpful (rather than just yammering on about my day-to-day life!)

In order to help you, I would love you to offer suggestions (by comment or email to lj@therawtarian.com) re: the type of questions you have or articles you'd like to read from me.

I look forward to hearing your questions or ideas about what would be interesting/useful to you.

Thank you so much, I appreciate you.

Raw vegan recipes are about more than plain old boring uncooked veggies. There are actually many types of raw vegan recipes ranging from sweet to savory and from -- and from tidbits and meals to desserts. There are even recipes that your non-vegan friends will delightfully dig!

Salads

Who says salads should be boring? True, they can be boring sometimes, especially if you’re having the same recipes over and over again. However, salads are really handy to have around as part of your raw vegan arsenal because they’re quick and easy to make. Basically you just have to dump the ingredients together into a bowl and enjoy! But with my raw vegan recipes, you can turn a plain salad into a tasty and delicious dish! Why don’t you try making some raw salad for lunch, raw cashew apple salad, or raw avocado dulse salad?

Smoothies

Raw smoothies are one of yummiest healthy blends.  The ingredients are broken down and mixed together so well that they can actually disguise that "green" taste from your greens (like spinach and kale). This raw vegan recipe also allows your body to absorb more nutrients. Smoothies can be prepared with just a blender, and they’re really simple yet packed with substance. I personally like having my silky green smoothie in the mornings. I also have recipes for raw banana chai smoothies and raw lemonade smoothies, among many other raw smoothie recipes.

Savory sauces and dressings

Adding different raw sauces or dressings gives your dishes a boost in flavor. You can transform a boring dish into something amazing. Just blend the ingredients until you obtain the right consistency.

My raw cheese sauce recipe and my raw ranch dressing recipe are just two of the savory sauces and dressings you can try matching with a variety of companion raw vegan recipes.

Savory meals

Contrary to popular belief among non-raw vegan foodies, raw vegan recipes are not just about fruits and vegetables. Even vegans get tired of eating food with the same taste all day long! Sometimes you just can’t help but crave something savory. But you don’t have to give in to the temptation of junk and processed food because there are a number of savory raw food recipes you can enjoy.

Some of the recipes need to be dehydrated first so they can take a while to prepare a dish, but the steps are really easy to follow. You may want to try some of my savory recipes like raw salmon salad pate, simple raw guacamole, or a raw bacon lettuce tomato sandwich.

Dehydrated recipes

If you are a seasoned raw vegan, you’re likely to have a dehydrator. But if you don’t know what to do with it, I have several recipes you can try making. These dehydrated raw vegan recipes require a lot more time to make, but once you’ve tasted the fruits (or veggies) of your labor, you’ll find it worth the wait!

This raw zucchini bread recipe, raw onion bread recipe and raw veggie burger recipe are just some of my many tasty dehydrated recipes.

Cakes and pies

Those oh-so-heavenly-looking cakes and pies that you crave might be your kryptonite against your raw food diet. But hey! It’s possible to still stay raw while having some yummy gluten-free raw vegan delights. You might worry that they'll taste too "healthy," but, believe me, they don’t!

These absolutely healthy but delicious no-bake cakes and pies are really simple to make and most of them just need freezing to stay together. Some of these raw vegan recipes that you can try are raw carrot refrigerator cake, raw cranberry lemon cheesecake bites, and raw banana cream pie.

Other raw vegan recipes

Want more luscious sweets for your vegan sweet tooth to explore? Well, there ARE more raw vegan recipes to satisfy your cravings for desserts. They are guaranteed guilt-free from sugar and gluten, but they’re also amazingly sweet! Most desserts just need mixing and chilling before you can indulge in their sweet pleasure. How about giving these raw desserts recipes a try: raw chocolate mousse, creamy raw fruit chia pudding, and raw vanilla drop cookies.

Which one will you make first?

I don’t know about you, but thinking about all these yummy raw vegan recipes are making me hungry. Who knew there were so many options you could try when going raw?  Don't be intimidated because these raw recipes are not as complicated as they look.

When I first started learning how to make green smoothies I would follow recipes rigidly.

There are thousands of free green smoothie recipes online. Just google them or buy a book. (Victoria Boutenko's Green Smoothie Revolution has everything you ever wanted to know about green smoothies.)

But now that I'm used to making green smoothies myself, I've taught myself how to make green smoothies that work for me.

I don't like them to taste too green, so I generally keep the ratios as follows:

In my blender I add:

• 1 to 1 1/2 cups of water
• A large handful of greens (spinach, romaine lettuce, carrot tops, etc.)
• Approximately a banana and an apple's worth of sweet fruit

Adding bananas to your smoothie

I almost always use a banana in my green smoothies because bananas make the texture so smooth. If my green smoothie tastes too green, I'll add a date or two (medjool dates are my favourite), some fresh sweet pineapple, or a sweetener such as raw agave nectar.

Depending on what I've added to my green smoothie the liquid will congeal really quickly. For example, by the time I've finished drinking my first cup the remainder in the blender will be all strange looking and congealed. Usually I'll just blend it up again for a few seconds and it will return to the more liquid state, which I prefer.

The Rawtarian's favorite smoothie

My favourite, simple, economical green smoothie is as follows:

• 1 to 1 1/2 cups of water
• A medium handful of romaine lettuce (or two big lettuce leaves, ripped into small bits)
• One banana
• One apple (or just half an apple if you like it thinner)
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Learning how to make green smoothies is a snap. Start with some good, clear recipes. After you've made about twenty or thirty green smoothies, you'll notice that there are some definite commonalities to the ratios of fruit to greens. You'll be making your own raw smoothie concoctions in no time.

Happy blending!

I trust you've had an eventful and food-filled holiday season! If you're anything like me, you're looking forward to getting back on track when it comes to your health.

You're invited to take my 14-day low-fat raw cleanse to reboot your habits and body for 2020. If you want to reach your ideal weight and give your body a well-deserved reboot, register today for this low-fat raw cleanse. Registration now open for a limited time: www.therawtarian.com/rawcleanse
 
I encourage you to move towards better health in 2020. As you head into the new year, listen to the faint whisper of your heart in all areas of your life, because goals and dreams don't get much louder than a whisper--and it's in your power to take that whisper and give it the attention it deserves.
 
Start 2020 by feeling better than ever about yourself. Get a preview of the cleanse (and all the free bonuses!) right now: www.therawtarian.com/rawcleanse (Registration closes January 31th.)

Going raw can have its challenges. You might have preconceptions that sink you before you swim. Like ‘raw food is boring.’ Or maybe you feel hungry all the time. You may even try to count calories – trust me, you don’t have to! Or maybe you’re not prepared when you’re away from home – so you grab a bag of chips.

But if you are aware of these mistakes, you are less likely to fall off the wagon. Here are some tips to help you avoid these common raw mistakes.

Mistake: Counting calories

First raw mistake is counting calories. You do not, I repeat, do NOT have to count calories when you are eating raw! Just make sure to eat a balanced raw diet. Eat good, whole healthy foods, and eat a lot of them. This is the joy of raw. Anyway, counting calories is a pain. Why do it if you don’t have to?

Mistake: Not eating enough

You’ll love correcting this raw mistake! Remember: you have to eat more than you’re used to. Don’t think, “Gee, one handful of berries is too much.” Grab another handful! It does take a lot more raw food (think volume) to ‘fill’ you up. Heap your plate high. Second servings are encouraged! Going raw does not equal going hungry. Make sure you eat enough throughout the day.

Mistake: Not being prepared when away from home

This is a huge raw mistake. One we’re all guilty of. We rush out of the house without a thought to snacks or lunch. So, get into the habit of having ‘easy-to-eat’ items on hand. Nuts, fruit,veggies – easy to take along for the ride. Divide your almonds (or cashews, or whatever) into baggies ahead of time – so they’re easy to grab. Bananas and apples… simple, take-along snacks.

The hard part is remembering to bring your food. For emergencies, stash a bag of nuts in your car (or even your purse). Being prepared when away from home is vitally important to successfully staying raw.

Mistake: Thinking that healthy food must taste boring

Raw food is boring… NOT! Many folks think eating raw is noshing down on lettuce and celery, day in and day out. Nowadays, going raw can taste delicious. No need to suffer taste deprivation! The secret is finding the right recipes. Have you tried the raw apple pie? Raw alfredo sauce? Raw brownies? Sweet or savory? Variety is key. There are so many delicious raw recipes to try. Start with the simpler raw recipes and then when you’re more confident… get creative! No more reasons to think, “ho-hum, boring” anymore. Scratch this raw mistake from your list!

What mistake are you making?

I hope you realize that going raw needn’t be boring or difficult. (Yay!) With just a little effort, staying raw will become second nature to you. Just be aware of these raw mistakes. Delight your taste buds with a variety of raw recipes. Don’t starve yourself or count calories. And be sure to carry simple raw snacks with you every time you leave the house!

We keep hearing that it’s always healthier and more practical to eat meals prepared at home. Yet, one of the reasons that may hinder you from eating healthy is battling a love-hate relationship with the kitchen. (Or maybe you've developed an aversion towards kitchen chores – namely uncooking and cleaning up afterwards.) Cooking can be a bothersome task, and waiting in front of your stove/oven for your food just takes too long sometimes. And so you may wind up picking up the phone and dialing for the fastest take-out restaurant to deliver or reaching for instant meals. 

Wouldn’t it be nice to eat healthy and take only as much time as it would take you to make that call for take-out? Well, I have the perfect list of raw food recipes for people who don’t like to cook! And these recipes don’t have any need for many kitchen tools other than a blender and a food processor, so you don’t really have to worry about cleaning up a big mess afterwards. I know that may sound too good to be true, but it is (true, that is). You’ll be amazed how easy and satisfying eating deliciously healthy raw food can be!

Raw egg salad recipe

Nope, this recipe doesn’t really have any eggs that you normally would have to cook. It’s more like an "eggless" egg salad! But trust me, this raw egg salad recipe tastes just like an authentic egg salad!

Just dump cashews, water, lemon juice, turmeric, garlic cloves and sea salt into your powerful blender and blend until you get that very nice and creamy hollandaise sauce-like texture. Transfer the mixture into a bowl and mix in chopped celery and red bell pepper until everything is coated. Lastly, top it with a dash of pepper and paprika then eat it. Bon appétit!

Raw vegan chicken salad recipe

Here’s a great way to eat a vegan "chicken" dish without chicken. To make this tasty raw vegan chicken salad recipe, you’ll need your food processor. So get it from your cabinet and start uncooking.

Simply process (for a few seconds) all the ingredients – sunflower seeds, cashews, pecans, cucumber, red onion, apple, celery stalk, fresh or dried dill, lemon juice and sea salt together into chunky bits. Don’t process for too long! You may want to let the flavors combine by leaving it for about half an hour, but it’s best to consume it immediately because it doesn’t keep well. You’re right; this recipe is pretending to be chicken meat even though it doesn’t taste like chicken. But the texture is just like that of a chicken salad.

Raw marinated mushroom recipe

Three ingredients: mushrooms, olive oil and raw soy sauce. You can handle that, right? And what's more, this raw marinated mushroom recipe needs no equipment at all! That means no cleaning up! Well maybe you’d have to wash your plate after eating, of course.

But kidding aside, all you need to do is pour oil and soy sauce over your sliced mushrooms in a deep plate and gently stir. Allow the mushroom to sit for about five minutes and enjoy. If you want to spice it up a bit, you can also add your choice of garnish like sesame seeds or green onions. It’s all up to you! These mushrooms are perfect salad toppers.

Raw chocolate mousse recipe

What about dessert, you say? You don’t need to bake or need any fancy cookware either! In fact, you can make a number of simple and sweet desserts in just five minutes or less.

Try making this raw chocolate mousse recipe by processing avocado, banana, coconut oil, cacao powder, a sweetener, and sea salt in a food processor until very nice and smooth. Scoop into your choice of dishes or small cups and refrigerate for an hour before serving. Easy, yes? Yes!

These recipes are for you

So if you are one of those people who simply can’t get acquainted with your stovetop or oven, then these are the perfect raw food recipes for people who don’t like to cook. Why not try whipping up your own delicious no-cook meal?